Jill Ellis has been a bit of a lightning rod for the team, variioius lineups in games that are not so important allowing her to get a look at different things and players in different positions, Crystal Dunn a defender, YES. In Aug of 2015 she was rewarded for her successes with a multi year deal, then became just the 3rd U.S. Coach, joining the late great Tony DiCicco and his '99ers & legend Anson Dorrance in 1991, and first female to head a FIFA World Cup winning side. I consider myself lucky to have spoken with Anson a few times as well as a bit with Jill and did camps with Tony. The 2015 FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women's soccer, and Concacaf Female Coach of the Year, she had already done 2 stints as interm coach of the team with a record of 6-0-3. now being the 8th coach of this powerhouse team. While possessing a haughty record of 83-1-16, Ellis has passed Anson for 4th place on the all time win list, and also just one of four to get 100 games in as coach. expecting to catch Pia Sundhage (108), for 3rd during these Concacaf games, well within reach are the remainig two, DiCicco at 121 & April Heinrichs a fantastic player who has the top spot at 124.She has had no shortage of titles in her time at the helm, with 6, the 2015 Algarve Cup, 2015 FIFA World Cup, 2016 Olympic Qualifying Champ., 2016 She Believes Cup again in 2018 (we were of course there in NJ) & most recently in Hartford, the 2018 Tournament of Nations which we again were present for.
Over the next few weeks we will also have a look at the team position by position as we appproah the games in Texas.